Republic Act No.

8239
Philippine Passport Act of 1996

SECTION 5. Requirements for the Issuance of Passport. — No passport shall be issued to an applicant unless the Secretary
or his duly authorized representative is satisfied that the applicant is a Filipino citizen who has complied with the following
requirements:

a) A duly accomplished application form and photographs of such number, size and style as may be prescribed by the
Department;

b) The birth certificate duly issued or authenticated by the Office of the Civil Registrar General: Provided, however, That if the
birth of the applicant has not been registered yet, or if his birth certificate is destroyed, damaged, or not available due to other
causes, he shall apply for delayed registration of his birth with the Office of the Civil Registrar General which shall issue to said
applicant a certification of pending application for delayed registration of birth attaching thereto a copy of an accomplished
certificate of live birth. Such certification and the accomplished certificate of live birth shall be sufficient to support an
application for passport in addition to other papers which the Department may require from the applicant;

c) In the absence of a birth certificate, a baptismal certificate for those who are members of a Christian religious, or similar or
equivalent certificate issued by a non-Christian religious group, attesting to the applicant's having been admitted to such
religious group or set at an early age and where it is indicated that the applicant is a Filipino citizen, which should be
accompanied by a joint affidavit by two (2) persons who have personal knowledge of the applicant and of such age as to
credibly state the applicant's date and place of birth, citizenship, and names of parents: Provided, That Filipinos who do not
believe in any religion and whose parents for any reason failed to have the said applicant baptized shall be exempted from the
baptismal certificate requirement: Provided, further, That in lieu thereof, the applicant shall execute an affidavit to that effect
duly corroborated by affidavit of at least two (2) persons of good reputation who personally know such fact:

d) In case of a woman who is married, separated, divorced or widowed or whose marriage has been annulled or declared by
court as void, a copy of the certificate of marriage, court decree of separation, divorce or annulment or certificate of death of the
deceased spouse duly issued and authenticated by the Office of the Civil Registrar General: Provided, That in case of a divorce
decree, annulment or declaration of marriage as void, the woman applicant may revert to the use of her maiden name: Provided,
further, That such divorce is recognized under existing laws of the Philippines;

e) In the case of naturalized citizens, a certified copy of the naturalization certificate; or a certified naturalization certificate of
husband or parent duly issued and authenticated by the Office of the Civil Registrar General if citizenship is claimed through
naturalization of spouse or parent;

f) For an applicant who has not reached the age of majority, an affidavit of consent from a parent as indicated in the passport
application if the minor is travelling with either parent, and a clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and
Development, if the minor is travelling with a legal guardian or a person other than a parent;

g) If the applicant is an adopted person, the duly certified copy of court order of adoption, together with the original and
amended birth certificates duly issued and authenticated by the Office of the Civil Registrar General shall be presented:
Provided, That in case the adopted person is an infant or a minor or the applicant is for adoption by foreign parents, an authority
from the Department of Social Welfare and Development shall be required: Provided, further, That the adopting foreign parents
shall also submit a certificate from their embassy or consulate that they are qualified to adopt such infant or minor child;

h) In her case of discrepancy between the applicant's name in the birth certificate and in any other private documents, the former
shall prevail over the latter unless by operation of law or through court order, the applicant is permitted to use name other than
what is officially recorded in the Civil Register; and

i) If the applicant is a government employee, the travel authority issued by the head of department, agency or office, may be
required only if said applicant is applying for an official passport.

SOURCE: http://www.pctc.gov.ph/initiatv/RA8239.htm